Written by “Where Is Safe?” Single Benefits Trans Youth in At-Risk States
Trans Rocker Lenny Zenith Seeks to Protect Life-Saving Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Kids
“Where Is Safe?” campaign benefits the Southern Equality Campaign, Trans Youth Alabama, ACLU and The Trevor Project via Tiltify
Contact: Andy Reynolds at andy@popularpublicity.com
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“Had my parents not gotten me gender-affirming care when I was a teen transitioning in New Orleans a long time ago, I’d be dead,” says trans rocker Lenny Zenith on the release of “Where Is Safe?,” a new single to benefit organizations fighting for trans youth and their families in at-risk states.
Released May 27, the autobiographical single not only shares Zenith’s experience as a trans teen, but recounts the nightmare that spurred him to write the song. “I dreamt I was a kid desperately trying to find a state where my family and I could feel safe–and there were none left, except California.”
That the nightmare is real for so many is unconscionable to Zenith. “I feel so deeply, deeply sad, fearful and angry for trans kids and the families that love them who are trapped in states where they are being targeted not only with such harmful laws, but the hateful rhetoric they enable.”
The brutal reality for many parents is that they must leave states because the life-saving gender-affirming care their kids have been getting is now prohibited by law. 15 states have restricted access to gender-affirming care or are currently considering laws that would do so.
The son of a Methodist mister and Cuban immigrant, Zenith transitioned as a teen in New Orleans. He credits his parents–and the understanding doctors who gave him hope at Tulane Medical Center–with saving his life. Lenny surreptitiously attended school as a boy until his senior year, when he was outed by a classmate. He was asked not to return to school and was issued his diploma via mail. Though Zenith transitioned as a teen, it was years before he came out publicly as trans because he didn’t feel safe publicizing himself because of his transgender identity.
Zenith, who Out Magazine called “one of the genre’s first true transgender rock stars,” wrote and produced “Where Is Safe?” with his friend and collaborator James Pertusi. For the video he was able to secure film, images and stock footage depicting loving trans families.
100% of funds raised by the sale of downloads of “Where Is Safe?” will be donated to organizations fighting current and proposed anti-trans laws in 15+ states across the country. The organizations, to which the public can also donate directly via Tiltify include the Southern Equality Campaign, Trans Youth Alabama, ACLU and The Trevor Project.
Donate to the “Where Is Safe?” campaign on Tiltify. Benefits the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)
Download “Where Is Safe?” (on May 27) via Spotify and all major platforms.
DOWNLOAD folder of 300dpi Lenny Zenith images. Photo credit: Eva Mueller.
Lenny Zenith Bio
The pioneering transgender writer and rock musician has been writing, performing and releasing music for years with his own bands Jenifer Convertible, Tenterhooks, Minor Planets, Pop Combo and RZA (he had the name first, by the way), worked with producers James Murphy (pre-LCD Soundsystem) and Wharton Tiers (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.), and opened for legendary bands U2, Iggy Pop, The Replacements and X.
While primarily considered an indie/punk rock artist, he explores other genres including Latin (Lenny is half Cuban), jazz, electronica, pop and orchestral ballads.
Lenny transitioned in his early teens in New Orleans where he also attended NOCCA (New Orleans Center for Creative Arts). He credits the two doctors his parents took him to see at Tulane Medical Center for saving his life as a young and frightened trans kid.
Lenny surreptitiously attended school as a boy until his senior year, when he was outed by a classmate. He was asked not to return to school and was issued his diploma via mail.
After “graduation,” he went on to form the aforementioned bands, eventually moving to New York City where he continued to hone his craft and became a fierce activist for trans causes speaking at universities, PFLAG events, Queer Memoir and other spoken word performances. Many of his releases have raised funds for groups such as Trans Lifeline, PFLAG, Trans Women of Color Collective and House of Tulip (in his hometown of New Orleans).
Though Zenith transitioned as a teen, it was years before he came out publicly, because, as he told Billboard magazine, “he didn’t feel safe publicizing himself because of his transgender identity. But now, he’s ready to let the world know exactly who he is. ‘I want my voice to be heard, and I want to be able to support working with other transgender people and artists.’”
Lenny Zenith’s first solo album What If The Sun album released in 2018. He is currently working on a new album to be released Fall 2022.
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